L AUNCH O UT … L ET D OWN
L UKE 5:1-11
Text: Luke 5:4
Introduction:
When I was growing up one of our favorite things to do
was go fishing. I would find some worms and go down
on that bank of a creek or river and fish. There were
times when I caught stringers full of fish, and other
times when I didn’t catch much at all. Of course, we
would always talk about “the one that got away.”
Those fishing trips from my youth are worth
remembering now because they were a good time for
our family.
In our text, we read about some fellows who had been
on a fishing trip they would have liked to have forgotten
about. They didn’t talk about the one that got away,
because they had all gotten away! Then the Lord
showed up and He took them on A Fishing Trip To
Remember.
Today, I want us to consider a few things from this
story that relate to us and the church today.
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1. T HE V ESSEL
Luke 5:1-3
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon
him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of
Gennesaret, [2] And saw two ships standing by the
lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were
washing their nets. [3] And he entered into one of the
ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would
thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and
taught the people out of the ship.
A. Place of Instruction
1. Christ taught the people
B. Place of Irritation
Luke 5:5
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have
toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
1. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing.
2. T HE V OYAGE
Luke 5:4-5
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a
draught. [5] And Simon answering said unto him,
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Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken
nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
A. A Command
Christ issued a two part command. He commands them
to launch out and let down.
1. The vessel needed to go where the fish were.
Jesus knew that the fish were not where the boat
was. If those men expected to catch any fish, they
would have to go where the fish were swimming;
and during the heat of the day, that meant moving
out into deeper waters. The fish were not in the
shallows, and they certainly were not in the boat.
They were out there in the deep.
The same is true when we speak of reaching lost
people with the Gospel. We are casting our nets, but
we are fishing too near the shore. The fish are out
there in the deep waters of the world and if we are
going to throw the net over them, we are going to
have to get out there where they are! We can pray
and ask God to save souls; but until we go to where
the souls are, we will see very few saved. Listen to
what Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15.
The operative word there is “Go!” We cannot fish
until we go to where the fish are waiting!
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2. The net will never be filled with fish until it is
first let down.
Those fellows could have washed those nets,
mended those nets and hauled those nets all over that
lake; but they would have never caught a fish until
those nets were first let down. They could have
bought the finest nets money could buy, and still
they wouldn’t have caught any fish until the nets
were let down. They could have studied all the
newest ways for casting and drawing nets; but until
they let the nets down into the deep water, they
would have caught no fish. They could have talked
about fishing with other fisherman and discussed
various ways of casting the nets, but they would
have had no success until they let down their nets.
Do you get the picture? We seem to think that as
long as have the right Bible, the right kind of
preaching, the right kind of music, the right kind of
standards, wear the right kind of clothes, and say the
right things, then fish are guaranteed. Friends,
nothing could be farther from the truth! Church folk
talk about witnessing; learn new methods of
witnessing; develop services and build aquarium
where any fish would be happy and comfortable and
we wait for them to swim in. The truth is: they
don’t! And, they aren’t going to!
Just as it was that day, Jesus knows where the fish
are. He sends us to where they are, and He tells us
to fish. And, just as it was in that day, when we
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obey His commands, He will fill the nets. Listen,
our plans, our programs, and our efforts, are all
useless unless they are designed and directed by the
Lord. But, when the church goes to where He sends
her and she lets down here nets; He will fill them for
His glory!
B. A Concern
Peter responded “We’ve already tried that and it
didn’t work. We’re fisherman, you’re a carpenter.
Leave the fishing to us.
It is sad, but Peter sounds like the typical Baptist.
We look at the programs we have tried in the past
and see very little, if any, success and we say,
“There’s no use to try that again! We know how to
do it, and we tried it but it didn’t work.”
Maybe we are like the disciples.
Maybe we have always tried in our own power.
Maybe we didn’t go when He commanded to where
He commanded.
Maybe He wasn’t even included in the things we did
then. I would just remind you that without Him, all
our efforts are doomed to fail.
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John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in
me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without me ye can do nothing.
3. T HE V ICTORY
Luke 5:6-11
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great
multitude of fishes: and their net brake. [7] And they
beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other
ship, that they should come and help them. And they
came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to
sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful
man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and all that
were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they
had taken: [10] And so was also James, and John, the
sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And
Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou
shalt catch men. [11] And when they had brought their
ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
A. A Miracle Involving Fish
When Peter and the other men obeyed Jesus, they
enclosed so many fish that their nets threatened to
break.
One of these days, the Lord Jesus is going to say to
Temple Baptist Church, “Launch out into the deep
and let down your nets for a draught.” When He
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does, I am sure some will want to argue about what
happened when we tried that back then. But, a few
are going to say, “We’ve tried that before and it
didn’t work too well. But, nevertheless at thy word I
will let down the net.” Those who do that are going
to see the Lord do a great work!
There are plenty of fish out there today; more than
enough to fill this vessel and many more like it. If
we want to see the Lord grant us a miracle; if we
want to see Him save souls; if we want to see Him
fill our vessel to overflowing; then we must learn to
let down the nets when, where and how He says.
That is the secret to success!
B. The Miracle Involving the Fisherman
When Peter and the others saw what Jesus had done,
those rough, crude fishermen fell at the feet of Jesus
and worship Him! They were amazed at His power
and they glorified Him for what He had done.
C. A Miracle Involving the Future
Jesus says, “Peter, and you men, you haven’t seen
anything yet! You think this was something? Just wait
until you see souls getting caught in the Gospel net!”
The Bible tells us that these men left their fishing nets
behind and went after Jesus. Because they did, you and
I are here tonight! Think about it! Old Peter, who
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bowed at Jesus’ feet on that ship, later stood at
Jerusalem on Pentecost and preached the Word of God.
When He did 3,000 souls were saved! Those people
picked up the Gospel net and cast it far and wide.
Others picked it up after them, and others, and others,
until one day, someone cast the net and you and I were
enclosed within it.
That is how this thing has always worked, “And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also,” 2 Tim. 2:2.
2 Tim. 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among
many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men,
who shall be able to teach others also.
Close:
Sometimes, I think back on those days when I was
growing up. I think it would be nice to take a rod, a few
worms and a stringer and go sit on the river bank all
night and try to catch a big catfish. But, do you know
what I think would be better than that? I think it would
be better to invite Jesus to get on our vessel and ask
Him where He would have us let down our nets; and
then watch Him fill them to overflowing for His glory.
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